Modular digital audio system having individualized functional modules
AssigneeTelex Communications, Inc.
InventorSteven G. Christensen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for recording, editing, processing and playing digital audio in a real-time, non-linear, non-destructive fashion. The system comprises a collection of the following modules: a disk controller for reading and writing disk-based media: an I/O processor for moving data between the disk controllers, I/O devices and connection bus, a DSP processor for processing data that exists on the connection bus, and a sample playback processor for performing memory-based polyphonic digital playback attached to the connection bus. The system's modules are connected via a connection bus that allows the transfer of multiple channels of information simultaneously in synchronism with the system's variable sample clock.
Claims14
A modular system for processing digital audio data, comprising:
- a host computer having an expansion bus for transferring computer digital data and control signals;
- a separate interconnection bus for transferring the digital audio data;
- a set of audio modules all coupled to the expansion bus for transferring the computer digital data and the control signals between the modules and the host processor and all coupled to the interconnection bus for transferring the digital audio data among all the audio modules, each of the modules being adapted to processing the digital audio data according to a subset including less than all of a set of different audio functions, and any one of the audio modules being adapted to transfer the digital audio data on the interconnection bus to any different one of the audio modules for performing a function not performable by the one audio module.
A method of processing digital audio data in connection with a host processor having an expansion bus and a separate interconnection bus, comprising:
- receiving the digital audio data from an audio input in a first module coupled to both of the buses, the first module being incapable of performing any substantial digital processing on the digital audio data other than possibly converting it to and from analog form;
- transferring the digital data from the first module over the interconnection to a second module coupled to both of the buses;
- performing digital processing upon the same digital data in the second module, the second module being incapable of performing any other substantial functions on the digital audio data;
- transferring the digital data from the second module over the interconnection bus to another module coupled to both of the buses;
- transmitting the digital audio data to an audio output in the other module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.